Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (August 27, 2026)
YourStory presents the daily news roundup from the Indian startup ecosystem and beyond. Here's the roundup for Thursday, August 27, 2026.
From Bill Gates' call for taxing AI and reserving jobs for humans to Deepinder Goyal-backed Temple's acquisition of Longevous, YourStory brings you today’s headlines with the latest developments across sectors.
Featured stories
Bill Gates calls for taxing AI, reserving some jobs for humans
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has called for governments to take concrete steps to manage the upheaval caused by artificial intelligence, saying that they should tax AI and robots, strengthen support for displaced workers and deliberately set aside some jobs for humans. His proposals come as AI advances rapidly and begins to take on tasks once considered dependent on human judgement. Gates warns that governments are not preparing quickly enough for a technology that could reshape employment, public services, security and everyday life.
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SugarStrings.ai uses simple cheek swabs to identify thousands of genetic disorders
Bengaluru-based healthtech startup SugarStrings.ai has developed a non-invasive DNA test that screens users for more than 7,442 genetic disorders, and aims to make genetic testing more accessible and privacy-focused.
Latest news
Deepinder Goyal’s wearable startup Temple acquires London-based Longevous
Deepinder Goyal-backed Temple has acquired evidence-based Longevous as it builds its clinical and scientific capabilities ahead of its launch. As part of the acquisition, London-headquartered Longevous founders Dr Robert Mohr and Dr Avi Roy, along with their team, will join Temple full-time.
Funding news
Logistics tech startup TrucksUp raises $8.2M in growth funding
Gurugram-based logistics technology platform TrucksUp has raised $8.2 million in funding from institutions, family offices along with participation from the Co-founders, Sarthak Shah Elwadhi and Aviraj Singh Chadha.
Astrology platform InstaAstro raises $12M in Series A round
InstaAstro, a Noida-based online astrology platform, has raised $12 million in a Series A round led by Singularity AMC and Artha Venture Fund, with participation from its founders. InstaAstro will use the funding to build AI-led solutions, including sentiment analysis to help astrologers deliver more contextual consultations and multilingual support to improve the consultation experience across languages. It also plans to expand its pooja seva and spiritual commerce businesses.
InspeCity inches closer to orbit with Rs 100 Cr funding boost
Spacetech startup InspeCity has raised Rs 100 crore in a pre-Series A round of funding led by Speciale Invest, Ashish Kacholia, Antler India, Manish Gandhi, Shastra VC, and others.
Biryani Bees raises $1M from Vivek Oberoi Family office
Biryani Bees, a biryani and Indian meals brand, has raised $1 million from the Vivek Oberoi Family Office to accelerate its expansion across India’s Tier II markets. The company currently operates three outlets in Uttar Pradesh and plans to expand to 10 outlets across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and other high-potential Tier II markets.
The funding will initially support the expansion to 10 outlets, strengthen central kitchen infrastructure, build the operating team and establish a repeatable expansion model. Biryani Bees said the investment will help it take its existing business model into new markets while strengthening the infrastructure required to scale across multiple states. Its long-term ambition is to build a national network offering standardised, affordable and quality daily meals.
OORJAA raises Rs 9.7 Cr in Series A funding
Technology-led logistics platform OORJAA has raised Rs 9.7 crore in a Series A round led by Equentis Angel Fund, with participation from Inflection Point Ventures. The company will deploy the capital towards technology and product development, scaling its proprietary AI/SaaS logistics stack Datashastra, and strengthening its control-tower and automation capabilities.
OORJAA will also expand its mid-mile and last-mile network across new cities and categories, take Datashastra into international markets beginning with the GCC, and hire talent across technology, operations and enterprise sales.
The company operates an asset-light, full-stack model combining hubs, fleet and manpower with its technology platform. It currently moves more than three million products and 50,000 last-mile orders daily across over 200 cities.
Velaan Mart raises Rs 1.26 Cr in funding
Velaan Mart Agritech has raised Rs 1.26 crore in funding from Next Bharat Ventures. This agritech startup is building an organised farm-to-institution supply chain designed to improve market access for farmers while providing fresh and quality-assured produce to institutional and commercial buyers.
The company currently operates across Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Karaikudi, serving colleges, hostels, restaurants and other institutional customers through its integrated procurement and distribution network. Existing agricultural supply chain has several inefficiencies and Velaan Mart aims to address this gap by creating a direct connection between farmers and bulk buyers.
The company sources fresh produce closer to the point of origin and manages procurement, quality checks, processing, storage and distribution through an integrated supply chain. Its model is focused on reducing unnecessary intermediaries while creating greater transparency around pricing, quality and sourcing.
Other news
Swiggy’s Food on Train grows 12x in two years
Swiggy’s Food on Train service has grown 12-fold between August 2024 and August 2026, with adoption in Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets growing twice as fast as in metropolitan cities. The service has expanded to 201 railway stations, up from 66 in 2024.
Swiggy has also introduced two features to make train-food ordering easier. ‘Search by Train’ allows users to enter their train number or name to see food options mapped to their route and schedule. The ‘99 Store Widget’ provides passengers with quick access to budget-friendly meals.
Swiggy said food preferences among train travellers are also changing, with demand rising for lassi, buttermilk and mojitos, while traditional meals such as thalis account for more than 65% of orders. Sweet orders have increased 110%, led by rasgullas.
Flipkart Ads launches Saarthi for sellers and brands
Flipkart has launched Saarthi, an Ads Partner Program designed to provide sellers and brands with professional advertising support at zero cost. The programme combines an AI-powered campaign tool with a network of certified agency partners offering hands-on campaign management. Flipkart said sellers have identified campaign complexity, uncertainty over where to begin and difficulty understanding campaign performance as key challenges.
Saarthi aims to address these issues by helping businesses navigate digital advertising and improve campaign effectiveness. Agencies such as Accenture and Dentsu have been integrated into Flipkart’s ad-tech ecosystem and can guide sellers from campaign creation to sustained growth. Sellers and brands will be matched with agency partners based on their business stage, growth objectives and advertising readiness. The programme also offers campaign optimisation, knowledge and guidance.
T-Hub, Honda launch Innovation Challenge 2.0
T-Hub and Honda Digital Innovation India have partnered to launch Honda Innovation Challenge 2.0, a year-long programme aimed at co-building digital mobility and customer experience solutions with Indian startups. The programme features three new challenges and total funding of up to Rs 4.8 crore. Each challenge will select four startups eligible for up to Rs 40 lakh to develop proof-of-concept projects with Honda teams, significantly higher than the Rs 10 lakh available under the first challenge.
Selected startups will work directly with Honda engineering and business teams during a 12-week sprint and gain access to testing environments, operational insights and deployment support. Successful PoCs can progress to pilots and potentially be integrated into Honda products or services. The programme is open to startups across India.
VenturEdu launches zero-fee Emerging Founders Program
VenturEdu has launched the Emerging Founders Program, a zero-fee residential venture-building initiative for aspiring entrepreneurs aged 18 to 28. The programme is open to solo founders and teams of up to four members, with no previous startup experience required. Selected teams attending a two-day bootcamp in Gurgaon in September will be eligible for a stipend of up to Rs 50,000 per team, along with travel reimbursement of up to Rs 5,000.
There will be no programme fee or equity dilution. Twenty-five founders will subsequently be selected for a two-month residency from October 1 to November 30. They will receive mentorship and work on validating ideas, developing products and building business models. The top five startups will gain direct entry into the Fibonacci X accelerator.
Veranda K-12 expands AVINYA innovation challenge
Veranda K-12, a Veranda Learning enterprise, has announced the third season of AVINYA: An Innovation Hub, its flagship innovation challenge for school students. The programme encourages students to identify real-world problems and develop solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
After attracting more than 300 schools and 800 ideas in its first two editions, the 2026–27 edition will expand to over 100 cities and towns and reach more than one lakh students. Students from Grades 8 to 12 can participate. Online submissions will be followed by a presentation round, with 50–60 ideas shortlisted and the top 15 teams advancing to the national finale at IIIT Bengaluru on December 4–5, 2026. The finalists will receive mentorship and innovation training, while the top three ideas will receive special recognition.
LTM opens global delivery & AI centre in Kolkata
LTM has inaugurated a global delivery and AI competency centre in Kolkata, reinforcing the L&T Group’s long-term commitment to West Bengal as a technology and innovation hub. The facility is expected to support LTM’s growing global delivery capabilities and AI ambitions while creating opportunities for skilled professionals in West Bengal and neighbouring states.
Kolkata’s educational ecosystem, talent pool and expanding digital infrastructure were highlighted as key factors behind the company’s India growth strategy. The centre will serve as a hub for collaboration, innovation and delivery excellence, enabling LTM to support clients globally while contributing to the state’s economic development. The company said the new facility also strengthens its nationwide delivery network and reflects its continued investment in regional centres, digital infrastructure and employee experience.
Pensionbazaar launches Wealth 360 portfolio tracker
Pensionbazaar has launched Wealth 360, a unified portfolio tracking platform designed to give users a consolidated view of their investments and savings. With user consent, the platform brings together bank accounts, fixed deposits, mutual funds, stocks and the National Pension System in one dashboard.
Pensionbazaar said Indian consumers increasingly manage savings across multiple products and institutions, making it difficult to track overall wealth, returns, asset allocation and progress towards financial goals. Wealth 360 aims to address this fragmentation by providing a single view of a user’s financial portfolio.
Vishwajeet Goel, Head of Pensionbazaar, said investors do not need more products but “one clear view” of everything they have built. The platform also integrates retirement savings with everyday investments to provide a broader view of financial planning.
AMU targets Rs 400 Cr EV financing AUM by 2027
Accelerated Money for Upliftment (AMU), an electric vehicle financing company, is targeting EV financing assets under management (AUM) of Rs 400 crore by March 2027 and plans to increase this to Rs 600 crore by March 2028. The company expects its EV financing business to record 35–40% growth in disbursements, driven primarily by electric commercial vehicles. Commercial EVs currently account for 100% of AMU’s EV financing portfolio, reflecting its focus on the commercial mobility segment.
The company’s EV financing portfolio has recorded a CAGR of around 38%. AMU currently operates across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Haryana, financing electric commercial vehicles used for passenger and cargo mobility. It expects demand to remain supported by the lower operating costs and improving economics of electric mobility.
Binance launches Agent OS for AI-powered applications
Crypto exchange Binance has introduced Agent OS, a developer platform designed to provide standardised access for AI applications to Binance’s trading, market data, wallet, payment and on-chain capabilities. Built under Binance Intelligence, the initiative aims to provide AI builders, fintech developers and quantitative trading teams with a controlled foundation for developing applications and agents that interact with financial infrastructure.
Agent OS supports ready-made integrations as well as users’ own AI agents. Through tools including ChatGPT, Claude Code, Codex and Cursor, users can authorise agents to access market data, view account information and conduct supported trading activities, subject to configured permissions and limits. Binance said users can also assign individual agents to dedicated subaccounts, allowing them to segregate funds and trading activity.
NABARD, NaBFID sign MoU on rural infrastructure financing
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen collaboration in financing infrastructure projects with significant rural impact. The partnership combines NABARD’s expertise in rural and agricultural infrastructure with NaBFID’s specialised infrastructure financing capabilities.
Under the agreement, the institutions will explore joint financing, knowledge sharing and innovative financing solutions aimed at expanding access to long-term and competitively priced funding for projects that can strengthen rural infrastructure and value chains. Their collaboration will cover project identification, appraisal, due diligence, credit structuring, pricing and joint monitoring. They will also work on project structuring, financial modelling and debt syndication, alongside joint capacity-building initiatives drawing on the training institutions of both organisations.
Tulu Health launches Longevity OS
AI-native healthcare company Tulu Health has launched Longevity OS, a platform designed to convert fragmented clinical, laboratory, wearable and patient engagement data into daily actions for improving patient retention, engagement and clinic revenue. The company has also announced plans to expand its presence in the US. Tulu Health said its AI systems have already automated more than 100,000 healthcare operational tasks, with year-on-year growth exceeding 90%.
Longevity OS creates a unified patient twin and uses AI Voice, SMS and other channels to identify patients who may be at risk of disengagement before renewal. The company said longevity and wellness clinics often collect large volumes of patient data but lack tools to turn that information into timely interventions. The new platform aims to bridge that gap by translating data into actionable insights.
IndiaFirst Life selects Salesforce Agentforce
IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company, a Bank of Baroda subsidiary, has selected Salesforce’s Agentforce to advance its enterprise-wide artificial intelligence transformation. The insurer plans to embed AI agents into critical processes to improve sales, streamline operations and enhance customer experience. The initiative builds on IndiaFirst Life’s unified Salesforce platform, which supports the insurance journey from lead generation through claims settlement.
The company serves customers across more than 90% of India’s pin codes and continues to expand its distribution network. IndiaFirst Life will deploy Agentforce across three priority areas: new business underwriting, customer service and claims processing. Salesforce said the initiative represents the next phase of its collaboration with the insurer and supports IndiaFirst Life’s ambition to develop a more intelligent and customer-centric life insurance experience through greater use of AI across key business processes.
GSM VinFast, ARC Electric partner for corporate EV mobility
GSM VinFast has partnered with ARC Electric, a B2B electric mobility platform, to strengthen electric vehicle-based corporate mobility services. Under the partnership, ARC Electric will facilitate electric cab services for ad-hoc travel, airport transfers and employee transportation services, initially across Delhi NCR.
The companies plan to expand the offering to other Indian cities. The partnership combines GSM VinFast’s EV ecosystem with ARC Electric’s corporate mobility expertise to provide businesses with premium and sustainable transportation options. Services will cover daily employee commutes, airport transfers, on-demand travel and other corporate requirements. The initiative forms part of GSM VinFast’s broader 2,000-cab collaboration and aims to help organisations integrate EVs into regular transportation while advancing sustainability and carbon-reduction goals.
WACKER sets up Global Capability Center in Pune with HCLTech
Wacker Chemie AG has established a Global Capability Center in Pune in collaboration with HCLTech. The centre will support WACKER’s engineering, IT and digital transformation initiatives while providing a flexible and future-ready delivery foundation. Fabian Seibold, Director, WACKER Excellence Hub Pune, said the centre would strengthen the company’s global delivery and digital execution capabilities, while HCLTech’s experience in building and scaling such centres would support agility, governance and long-term growth.
Dr Frank Fehler, Executive Vice President and Country Head-Germany at HCLTech, said the expanded engagement marks an important milestone in WACKER’s digital transformation. The new centre builds on the strategic partnership between the two companies and is intended to support WACKER’s long-term engineering and digital transformation journey.
Wipro expands Google Cloud partnership on Gemini Enterprise
Wipro has expanded its partnership with Google Cloud to accelerate enterprise-wide adoption of Gemini Enterprise and agentic AI. As part of the initiative, Wipro is scaling its internal deployment of Gemini Enterprise and plans to empower more than 10,000 AI-certified specialists, including 1,500 Forward Deployed Engineers, with advanced AI capabilities.
The company has also launched the LIFT (Launch-Ignite-Flywheel-Transform) framework to help enterprises accelerate AI transformation and operationalise agentic AI at scale. Powered by Wipro Intelligence, LIFT integrates Gemini Enterprise with Wipro’s AI-powered delivery platforms, WINGS and WEGA. The combined ecosystem is designed to help businesses move beyond basic task automation towards secure, autonomous AI agents embedded in multi-step workflows. Wipro is building a dedicated team of more than 1,500 certified FDEs to scale AI adoption.
Kore.ai named Leader by three analyst firms
Enterprise AI platform company Kore.ai has been named a Leader by Gartner, Forrester and Everest Group in their latest evaluations of the enterprise AI market. The recognitions span five categories: agentic AI products, conversational AI platforms, customer service, employee services and enterprise search. Kore.ai said the recognition across three independent analyst firms carries significance because each evaluates the market using different criteria, perspectives and assessment cycles.
The company’s technology portfolio includes conversational AI, generative AI and agentic AI capabilities. Kore.ai also highlighted its patent portfolio covering areas such as agent definition language, constraint enforcement, multi-agent coordination, agent evaluation and governance.
Netscout enhances Arbor Edge Defense against DDoS attacks
Netscout has announced enhancements to its Arbor Edge Defense solution, aimed at helping enterprises protect mission-critical and revenue-generating applications from sophisticated distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. The enhanced solution is designed to identify malicious sources concealed behind shared content delivery network infrastructure and apply service-specific countermeasures.
This allows organisations to block attacks while continuing to provide access to legitimate customers using the same CDN. The updated AED capabilities include revealing attack sources hidden by CDN proxies, stopping application-layer attacks and protecting applications through service-specific policies. Netscout said the solution can also preserve legitimate customer access, defend both direct and CDN-mediated traffic paths, and extend existing CDN investments.